Pneumatic delivery system.



`EEEENTEE SEEE. 24, 1907; w. MUGEAVE. ENEUMATIC DELIVERY SYSTEM.

APPLIUATION `FILED MAY 20. 1907.

2 SHEETS-GEERT 1.'

@hun

MWW

PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

' v W. MOGLAVE.

PNEUMATI DELIVERY-SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED HAY 20, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W am 'UTNI'TED STATES PATET OFFICE.'`

wrLLtAu moravia'. Orsoaixroxj Vrijmxsvranflrm, AssrGNOR. 'ro McoLAvE-Baooxs oonPAXv, o sen-wrox, NsvnvAmA, A CORPORATION or rnnNsiLmNrm .TeaM-whom it may concern:

Be it.- known that l, \\'xLLrAn McCL.w,.a.,citizen of .the UnitedStates, residing at Scranton, in the countythe art `to' which it apport-airis to make and 'use thel same. A

This invention rela-tes to improvements in pneumatic delivery systems, and more particularly to the type'.

designed to be largely automaticv in its operation.

One of the objects in view is the delivery of ashes, sawdust, or'vother, light substances, lfrom ajpoint of intake to a point of discharge. .bya `continuous circuitA of air, means being provided for nmintainingthe circuitpraelically-'sealed against.- the 'intake or discharge of l air while adl'nitting of the intake and' discharge "of the ashes or other light or tine substances. i

comprises certain novel cons'tnuctions, l'combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully ldescribed andclaimed. i

Iii the accompanying dlawingsz-Figure l is a view,

partly in section andpartly inside'cleva-tion, of a battery ofboilers having connected. with the ash pit thereof one embtxliment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a -tp plan view of the lower and contiguous mechanism c f or separating the ashes or other substances from the circulating medium. Fig. 3 is a verticalA section taken on the pla-neindicatcd byline 3, 3 of Fig; 2l Fig24 is a transverse, .vertical 'see-tion on an enlarged scale, taken onthe plane indicated byline 4, 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is .sa a longitudinal, vertical section taken on the planel indicated byfline 5, 5 o f'Fig. 4.

The present; invention yis particularly well adapt-od for use. in the conveying of ashes, and is therefore illustratt-d as applied to the 'ash pits of a battery of boiler 4,0 urnaccs, which obviously may be of any size desired.

It is, of courseat once 4obvious that the invention may readily he employed'for the handling of sawdust, :gra-in or other light or fine.v substances. i :.Arranged beneath the ash pits of the boiler furnaces 1, l or othe "se positioned in proximity thereto, is a I' :f2 ,'whi,c'his rectangulanintransverse section, al early seen -in Fig. 4. I Leading from the respective ash pits are intake tubes 5, 5 in any-suitable number, the said intake tubes being preferably curved' forwardlyor 'i thddirection of travel of the ashes being conveyed. At the lower end, or point of juncture of each of thctubes 5 with tbc'con- Neyer tlibe2 is arranged a slide valve 6,' of any ordinary Speicaton of Letters Patent. I Application nea May 20,1907, sono No. 374,718.

PNEUMATI'C DELIVERY SYSTEM.

or preferred type, tit-ted in position to be. slid across-the end of the respective tube 5 for cutting off communica- -Itio'n between said tube and the 'conveyor' tube 2. The slide valves 6 of each ash pit arccolincctetlbya suitable connecting rod 7, and the outeimost valve 6' is engaged by an operating rod 8, which extendsto` a point. beyond the respective furnace 1, and extends upwardlythrough a slot 9 in positionl 'for bci-ng engaged for enablingmanual or other manipulation of the slide v alve's 6;

The slides `6 as will be Obvious from' the disclosure in l Fig. 1, are all arranged-mbe opened by being slid ina direction oppositel the direction of tra-vel of the material closed by movement in the direction-of thetravel of sucliinaterial.

The conveyor tube 2 'extends from' beneath the fur! .haces 1 into 'any suitable air-tight housing or casing 10,' to a point above a hopper "l1, arranged within said' housing. the bottom of thetube'2, atih'e'pointl of -tho hopper 11, being cut away for permitting the-discharge'. Withthis and otherobjects View, th'e invention.v

of ashes intothe hopper; lThe hopper 11 discharges into' a tube 12, which curvest'lownwardly and outwardly through one of the walls of the housinglO, and 'prefer- A ably forl a very shortdistance curves upwardly:- In

.front ofthe discharge end of the tubel2 isarrangcd a.'

bucket or other suitable conveyor or elevator 13',wliicli 'receives the discharge from the tube and lifts't-hesme to a position for being delivered to a car, orv otherwise disposed'of, as desired. "The conveyer 13 may be.

.suitable type 15, in which is arranged acrank wheel 16,`carried by a driving shaft 17, extending through the' wall of the housing land'suita'bly journaled. 'The wheel 1G may, of courso;"assume the form simply of a crank, if preferred, and the wrist pin of the saidwheel is'engaged by a link 18,` which extends downwardly to 'andis pivotally connected with a lever arm '1g-of a' segmental rack 2Q. 'l`l1erack 2O is pivotall'y mounted as at; 2l, and its teeth mesh with the teeth of a straight rack 22. The rack 22 is fixed to a piston rod 23, which rod is guided bya bracket' 24 at one end', and at'the opposite fend extends througlra stufiing-box into a tube 25. \\"itl1in'the tube 25 the rod 23 is provided with 'a head 26, oi any preferred'type." As illustrated,

7 the head 26 consists of a hollow casing' provided with an antifriction roller or"rollors27;`engaging 'thev lower portionof the wall of tlie'tube 2 5, thefpaifts being disposed in such relation to'each other that' the sahlhead,

.105 which in operation constitutes a' plu'n'gor tampon' reciprocnt-es from a point with its 1o\ver end-in line ivith the. lower end ofthc tube 25, to a point with the upper end of the head contiguous to the lower end of said tube. The tube is preferably square, but ina-y be cylindrical and extends' to one side ol'fthc discharge end of Athe. hopper 1l, where it connects with tube i12,

'tn bfe' 12- having an extension ol' its two sides and 4bottom of suitableshape for that purpose, so that the plunger I26, in its reciprocation, first I noves back to permit -ashes to drop' into the tube 12 and then moves dowf I t' is obvious, of course, that the-rotationbf the whe'el- 16 imparts zi. sivinging movement to the lever` 19, and oscillates the rack 20 in such mnneras to reciprocate the plunger 26. a It is to be observed that the horizontal portion and the upivardly-ext'ending outer end of the -tube 12 pre;

vent tile ashes frmfalling gravity out of the tube 12 and as the plunger .26 has but a very short travel, `a

' charge o fashes Wilialwaysbe present in thetnbe 1.2;

will form a seal against the admission of 'air into the chamber 10,-'through'said-tubef-The louter- 'end differently placedfroni what' s illustrate'gLin Fig. 3,

and -the same .results attained I Withoutl'in the 'least deviating from tllepirit'of the presentinventio.

Justoutside the housing' or chamber `1() is arranged a.

' blower 28,' which.' has its, intake end communicating upper portion of the chamber I0, or 'for -the upperfend with atube'29, which extends' into` the :ha'nnber /10 andcurves upwardly therein and' entends toa point contiguous to the ceiling of "said chamber. Offcourse' any suitable :f ilterdevices may beproviiied forthe ,'of the tube`29, for preventing 'the intake'of floating particles of ashes'. In' practice, however, I find that comparatively good results may be secured by making the distance from the. hopper 11 tothe uppei'endof the tube 29 sufficiently great, without the employment of filtering devices, the greateramount of the ashessettling by weight into' the hopper. The dischargeend of the blower 28 communicates with a pipe.'30,' which;

extends. in any suitable manner and by any suitable course back to the outer en d' of conveyer tube 2. I' have illustrated. the return pipe 30`as extending up and over thefurnaces 1', but 'itis,o f'course, obviousthat extends from the chamber 10 to the housing 14, and

the said pipe may be' positioned in.any manner found mostconvenient. l Y I A funnel or other suitably shaped outlet casing 3l has its outer end closed by a pivotally rnount:ed"re1i. ef

valve 32, `which is maintained .normallyin 'a closed position by means of a cord, wire or chain .33', suitably connected at'its upper end and extending over ap ulley 34, carried .by a bracket 35, fixed to the valve 32, the lofwer end of the cord 33 being provided with any 'suitable stop o r supporting devic'e, designed'to sustain weights 3 7437 ion said cord.. Any number of weights 3,7 n'1ay be employedand their number in:

va1ve'32,in`spening.

' creasfdfr' decreased' for varying the resistance of the .The circuit composed ofthe' closed chamber l0,

tube'29, blower 28, pipe 30, 'and comeyer tube '2; is

;. ssrpos s. s*

element S n blower. any deviee may lle employed '7u nt the point indieaued, 'which is enpnlnlenl' producing n 'dinl't at 'its inlukefnnd n force press-nre :n its exhaust', or, in other words, any forni of pump or ian fhieh is l elipalile of dnrwingfin lthe air at one side'and ffreing it'out ut the otherunay be'ernpioyed. so, long'a-s it is 'i foundA eflicient- .for creating, mainuxi ning 'and ne'eeleratixx'g".cireulation of air Within the eireulzuin'gl sys-reni.- It. is to be observed that as air is drawn hun thefpipe 2 9 and forced -out through pipe 30, '1he Icurrent of nir.

passing along the conveyor tube 2 'would ltend logdnnv 80 in air from the-tubes or intakes 5 whenthe slidevnlves` Gare open, andthe pressure ivi'thixitlle syst-cm would thus 'be increased, but-ior therelief provided for in the valve: 32. At'thc same time il is noted .ilnu 'the particulsir curve given lo. the intakes obviaues any 35 tendency .of'fth air passing along eoltveyer ,Lube 2 fromfdisehargin'g into Athe ash pit agninst the influx of' theashcs.- 4 In operation, when itis desired to empty the ,ashes .from an as hpit,"tl 1e' Y respective operating rod, S- .is 90 moved over in` slotf9 to the desired--cxtentior moving the slide 6to an opener partly-open condition, as de.- sire'd,V andthe ashes fall .by gravity intothe eonveytr tube' 2. It is to be noted that the cross-sectional aren of each of the inlet pipes '5 Vis less' than thc'timnsverse' 95 area of the tube 2, andtht eachof s aid pipes'' i's dis-` 'posed centrally of the `tribe 2', so. that as the ash-es `drop into the convcyer tube 2,/they assume the lform ol' u frustum of'a cone if theintukesare round n'nd'ihe frustuin of 'a'.pyrax'id if the intakes are square or reetamg'ular1 and leave spaces at thesides so thatth'e e-irculation of nir is'nokts'topped, but'is lpermitted trienntinue `in Asomewhat reducedareasfso th-.it the lentire bulk of the ashes discharged need not b e picked up at once, but portions thereof may b c 'carried frorn :he sides of the 'ash heaps. I- have heretofore endeavored to convey ashes in 'an'open circuit, employing a .e3-'lini the circuit in a. practillyfsealed rendition, obviaue's the necessity for such high pressureand 1n -.uerinll v reduces the expense 'ofoperation,`'it being obvioushowever that the return pipe 30 maybe mund, as it conveys air only, 'with possibly a snmll'dxninlil v of It is ol ons, of course, if llirelief 'valve ."llinvv bc-positioned at anypoi; in th circuitivhieh I nny be found desire-bl r conve1xie.n,'and it is also obvious that the'bloiver .28:may be'ipositioned al nny. de-

I sirable pointin the circuit. r

As indicated Fig. 2, the -bloiyer 28 and the shaft 130 What, I claim is:-.

1. In combination, a -tr.-insversely rectangular conveyer tnbe..4auintuire for delivering material` to' said tube, a sealed circuit for said tube, means for maintaining circulation of air within said circuit and tnbe, and a sealed discharge. for said conveyer tube.

ln -|nbination. a transversely rectangular relativelywide conveyor tube, an intake for said tube of less width than `said lube and centrally located with respect to'the width of said tube. a discharge for said tube, and means for maintainingr a current of air within the tube.

i. ln combination, a col1\'e \;'er tube, an 'inlet tube commuuicating therewith. a discharge tube .also communicabI ing with the eonveyer tube. said discharge tube being`arranged to delivcronly a portion of its contents at onetime, so as to remain constantly sealed, sealed means ofv comunmication between the discharge end'of said conveyer tube and the opposite end thereof, and means for maintainingr a circuit in said cnnveyer tube and communicating means.

4.111 combination. a couveyer tube provided ywith :1

discharge end, sea led means of communication bet'neen'the discharge end of said tube and the opposite end thereof. means for maintainingr circulation of air within said tube and said means of comlm niication,l and a curved inlet pipe communicating with said tube and being curved in the direction of travel of the current of air within the tube.

T. In combination. a con'veyer tube provided` \\'ith a discharge end, sealed means of communication between the discharge end of said tube and the'opposite end thereof. means for maintaining circulation of air within'said tube and said communicatingmeans, au `1inlet pipe inclined at an angleavith respect to the' conveyer tube and counuuui eating therewith; and a slide valve positioned at the point of juncture between the inta-ke pipe and the couveyer tube. for controlling the communication b etwcen said pipe andtnbe. said valve being arranged tb he opened by being moved in a direction opposite the direction ot' flow-of air circulating .vithin saidtube.

l. in combination, a conveyer tube provided with a discharge end` sealed means of communication between the discharge end of said tube and the opposite end thereof, means for maintaining circulation of air witilin said tube and couununicating means, an'-inlet cnmnnmicatin'gvitlt. said tube. and a relief valve arranged for governing the pressure ot' the circulating air. I

T. ln combination. a conveyer tube having an intake and a di. arge. `a sealed chamber'surrounding the discharge. a lube leading from said sealed chamber, a blower having its intake conuhunicating with said ltube'. and a pipe communicaring' with the discharge of said blower and extending to the said conveycr tube at a point beyond the intake` thereof.

N. lu cmnblnaticn. a conveyer tube having a discharge end. a sealed'cluunber surrounding said discharge end` means for delivering material from said sealed chamber without breaking the seal, means of'communication' be` tween the said chamber and the cud of the conveyor tube pin site the discharge end. means for maintaining a circulation ot' air in said tube and communicating means, an intake communicating with said tube intermediate thelength thereof. and a variable pressure relief valve controlling discharge from said communicating means, for governing the pressure therein.

si. In combination. a conveyer tube, an inlet therefor, the conveyor tube being provided with a discharge end, a sealed chamber surrounding said discharge end, a dis#- charge pipe extending from said sealed chamber and adapted to deliver material from the chamber only when 4the material is subjected to greater pressure than is maintained in the chamber, means of communication between tle said sealed-chamber and the 'end'of -the conveyer tube opposite the discharge end, means for maintaining acirc\lation of air insaid couveyer tube and communicating-means, and means for at times discharging material from the sealed chamber.

10. In combination, a scaled chamber, a sealed circulating system communicating with said chamber for deliverving material thereto, -a tube extending from said sealed chamber for facilitating delivery of material from the chamber, the tube being arranged to deliver material only when the material -is subjected to pressure in excess of the pressure within the sealed chamber and in addition to the force of gravity, and a plunger, movable only' part way of the length of said delivery tube, and means for reciprocating said plunger.,

'11. in combination, a sealed'chamber, a substantially sealed circulating system communicating with said chamber for delivering material thereto, a delivery tube extending from said sealed chamber and arranged to remain at all times partly nlled with material, and 'means for forcing material longitudinallyof said delivery tube.

12. ln combination, a' sealed chan1bera substantially sealed circulating system communicating with said chamber for delivering materialt-hereto, a deliveryl tube extending from said chamber, a plunger movable only part way of the length of said tube,'and an operating rod extending from said plunger outside the wall of said sealed chamber, the said delivery tube being sopositionedvas not to deliver material by gravity or by the pressure maintained within the sealed chamber.

' 13. In combination a sealed chamber, a, substantially sealed circulating system communicating with said chamber for delivering material thereto, atube extending through the vwallet the sealed chamber for delivering material therefrom, said delivery tube being downwardly 'inclined for a lportionof-its length andthen turned from the downward incline sudciently for preventing discharge by gravity. or by the pressure containcdwvitllin the sealed chamber, and means movable part way of the length of said tube for forcing material longitudinally of the'same.

14. In combination, a sealed chamber, a substantially sealed circulating system communicating therewith for .delivering material thereto, a hopper arranged for receivingV the delivery from said system, a tube curving downwardly from said-hopper and communicating therewith. and extending through-the wall of said sealed chamber and curved to a position 4preventing delivery of material out of fire discharge end of the sealing tube, andv means for reupocating said plunger.

15. In combination, a sealed chamber, a substantially sealed circulating Asystem communicating therewith for delivering material thereto, a discharge pipe extending from said sealed chamber in position for preventing discharge of material under the action of gravity or bythe pressure maintained in the sealed chamber, a plunger arranged to reciprocate in position for engaging material within the discharge pipe and forcing the same longitudinally thereof for discharging portions of the material froln the outer end of said pipe, means for limiting the amount of movementl ofthe plunger to less than the length of the pipe, and a conveyer for receiving the discharge from said pipe.

I n testimony whereof I atiix my'signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM. MCCLAVl-l.

Witnesses:

LoUl'sLA FONTAINE, Tuou'its E. Jous. 

